What's Going Down in 2008?

I don't usually have time to write blogs, but it's snowing outside and I can spend time catching up on things for 2K8.  Usually, I take time during Black History Month to reflect on some personal goals, and things I need to do in my community.  I'd spent all of last year in transition, since this year marks my company's 25th Anniversary.

Now I have to start plans, both within the company and beyond.  I'll probably write a blog on NSP's myspace page with more details.  As for now, I'm reflecting on my 25 years in hip-hop.  For some reason, I believe for about 14 of those years, I've been the most productive. When NSP expanded during the early 90's, I remember taking kids to auditions, conducting photo shoots, rehearsals, and everyone telling me to slow down.  Well, this year I'll hit the big 4-0, and I'll consider slowing down (a little).  But for now,  I'm putting everything in cruise control (just have to make sure the tank is full to last the whole year).

I have to admit that that getting my book finished and trying to get back in the studio was a bit harder than I thought.  Winter 2006, and all of 2007 ended up being a transitional year.  I've met some great people in the process, was getting reaquaited with former students, etc.  Unfortunately, I didn't set a pace to take care of my personal goals as D.J. Ace.

I am working on some music now as well as the book.  But NSP got a new crop of performers now, with some great kids, stepping up this year.  I believe they have a bright future ahead of them.  I need to do my part to help them understand the business side of the music business, the modeling industry, and keep them focused.  February 28th is my return to the recording studio with some of them.  It'll be 10 months since our last session.  Noelle's song, "Here With Me" is about to be released, and we're planing her in March.  Coming up on the 28th  will be my 'bubble gum' crew.  I want them to be as successful, so we'll just wait and see what happens with their first recording next week.  I'm also working with Young Keith, who's been on the hip hop scene for some time now, so I'll be offering my advice and time to help polish up some of his work.

I'm doing a lot more time on keyboards than the turntables so I can get some compositions complete.  I'd prefer my music to be more authentic than just digital and programmed.  When I hit the studio next week, we're going have fun.  That's probably why I believe this 25th anniversary has a lot of meaning.  When I first started all this, it was fun.  I've spent the last couple of years in transition, paper work, meetings, fix this, move that.  But this year, it's time to come home. Time to have fun in 2008.  That's what's missing in the hip hop industry.  It's not fun anymore.  Everyone wants a check.  I  want to have fun making music.  But that's another story.  Perhaps another blog.... Till then!

Well the comeback has been interesting these last few months.  NSP is now in transition, getting a fall schedule underway, and getting membership issues resolved.

As per my music, I made a stop in Pennsylvania last month, and I'm currently working on the Jazzy Jazz Festival every Friday through the end of August.  By now, I hope most of you got a chance to here Noelle's new song, "Here With Me".  We had fun producing the track, and I'm hoping to push her material in the coming months.  I'd removed it of my page as she now has an official myspace page (http://myspace.com/noellensp).  She also made a good showing with me in PA.  We're currently got the next song in the works.

I've also been working with a kid pop group called the Candy Gurlz.  I will be adding them to the NSP website as soon as we get their photos and promos completed.

For now, I got the turntables on the side collecting a bit of dust until the next trip which will be in August back to PA.  I'm looking into the expansion of NSP in the coming months, with Baltimore, Houston, and D.C. in mind.  So if you're from that area, give me a shout, and perhaps we can build.

When you get a chance, I have some youtube promos circulating through illbrew.com.  The first promo is out, and I'll should be able to view it soon here.

As per my production work, I'm looking toward 2008 as NSP prepares for their 25th anniversary, so I'd already made some committments going into next summer events, plus I'm looking for a positive rapper to come tag team with me on two tracks for this coming fall.

Peace!

Til next time

It's been a wild year so far, and folks are waiting for me to make my 'next move'. 

A lot's on my mind at this time.  I've been spinning records the last few months just for fun, and I'm getting my plans to return to the studio in order.  Currently, NSP is restructuring, and I'm considering some major changes in the coming months.

Next, besides hitting the turntables, I'm going to spend some time playing drums with a funk/R&B/jazz group called 'GIZA'.  W're hoping to get some things moving in time for the Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival in April.

I'm all about new ideas this year, so let's get the ball rolling, folks...

Gotta questions for you... ARE YOU DOWN WITH NSP?

HOLLA BACK AT ME!

Let's set the record STRAIGHT!

Right before this new year started, I pulled out about 15  cassette tapes, all filled with instrumentals, recordings,

and work I've done between 1987 and 1995.  I was thinking to myself about the thousands of dollars that I'd

personally spent on my material, not to mention others who were involved in NSP at that time.

I came back to the hip hop scene mainly because I felt incomplete.  I'd actually wanted to put Much Finesse to

a closing period in time since 2006 is our 20th Anniversary of the group's exhistence.  Though none of the members

are involved in NSP or in hip hop, I stll hear from some of the former members.  It's amazing how you play an 

important role in someone's life and how things come back years later to remind you of the blessings to come.

All I can do at this time is give advice, and relax to some good music.  I've been a rap artist, a D.J., a jazz

musician, a promoter, manager, and entrepreneur.  What else is there to do?  If anything comes from having my

music here on Myspace, hopefully it's all for the good.  I'm not expecting to return full-time to the rap game, 

but I'm hoping to see hip-hop take its proper place as it should.  Need some positive folk out there... Where You

At?